1) The Civil Rights Act of 1964 in the United States outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

2) The musical "The Phantom of the Opera" has been running in London's West End since 1986, making it the longest-running musical in history.

3) The blue whale is the largest animal to have ever existed, with an average length of about 82 feet (25 meters).

4) J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series of books has sold over 500 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 80 languages.